Resident Evil 4

Many buttons have been mashed and this guy whom we’ll call Leon (for no other reason than he answers to said name) has kicked some serious trash, but now the Presidents daughter is safely home with her family. Yes, that’s right, the great Button Masher himself has completed Resident Evil 4.

After dying an unimaginable eighty times, killing nine hundred nine zombified Spaniards and other forms of unimaginable grotesqueness, connecting sixty-seven percent of the time the trigger was pulled and taking a little less than nineteen hours I have finished one of the best games of all time.

I won’t mention anything that could be spoiler material, but I will say that from start to finish, this has been one of the most enjoyable and intense games I’ve ever played. It was difficult and challenging, but never became frustrating. I try not to put too much stock into audio and visuals but here they are undeniable. Absolutely stunning visuals and spot-on sound. I pay attention to the little details and RE 4 is polished. We’re talking U.S. Army Boots spit-shine polished.

Is it a perfect ten? No, I’m not sure a game will ever achieve that lofty status. There are a few minor issues I have with the game overall but with controls in particular. A strafe option and a quick weapon switch would have been very welcome. Also, being able to turn quicker would be a nice addition. But these are minor blemishes on this masterpiece. Please don’t construe this as complaining. It would be like complaining you don’t have Italian Leather pedals for your Ferrari. The game is still top-shelf.

I’m mulling where this game ranks in “The List”. I will say, unequivocally, that this is a top ten game, all time. Game of the year contender.

Hyperbole aside, Resident Evil 4 is a great game.

An exclusive, hands-on preview of a game, here on ButtonMashing? Okay, not really. I did get a hands-on with Resident Evil 4. I say it’s exclusive because there was no one else in the store, obviously because they were waiting for me to arrive for my exclusive hands-on! Alright, it was a slow night at the store, but I do have a funny story leading up to my “exclusive” hands-on:

I went to the local rental shack to see if they had put RE4 out for rental yet (I have enough games, I don’t need to buy any more, but RE4 looks too tasty not to at least rent) and unfortunately it wasn’t out yet. In fact, after my hands-on, I can safely say I wouldn’t be posting this if it was. I’d be playing it. Anyway, I mosy into the attached Game Crazy and it’s empty, save one employee. I’m not sure, but the lights may have been dimmed a little. It did seem strangely eerie. The worker is engrossed in a game. I walk up to the TV to take a look and the guy jumps out of his shoes. “Whoa! you scared me,” he says. I notice he’s playing Resident Evil 4. “Heh, that’s what happens when you’re playing a Resident Evil game.” We both have a chuckle. Off in the distance I think I heard screaming. Something about, “But mommy! I want to watch Harry Potter!”

I watched him play for a couple minutes and I must say – the game looks tremendous. The surroundings and environment look gritty and muddy. The bad guys look, well, bad and intent on employing farm tools in your harm. The animation is fluid and the frame-rate looks solid, even when there’s a lot of action going on. After a couple of minutes, he asks if I want to play? Me? Absolutely. My exlcusive, hands-on preview! He hands me the platinum Wavebird and I can tell he’s been gripping it pretty tightly. It’s not just warmed up, it’s downright hot.

As I took control, the game felt a bit awkard. Within the first few minutes things felt natural. I have no idea what the story is but I do know that a 12-gauge shotgun can take down some serious walking meat bags. There seems to be a lot of interaction with the environment and things look and feel organic. This is a must-play.

I only got about five minutes worth of playing but I must say, RE 4 is looking most excellent.